December 2018

Sir Alex Ferguson back at the training ground, blowing out candles on his birthday cake, best wishes swirling around Old Trafford, goals flying in, it’s like the last five and a half years never happened.

Such was the degree of dysfunction under Jose Mourinho, so fractured had relationships become, the old malcontent had only to collect his cards to affect a feelgood rebound. How much of Manchester United’s sudden exuberance is down to Mourinho’s departure or Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s arrival is yet to be understood. What is clear is the rule of thumb by which Solskjaer is working.

Apologies for going all high brow so early in the New Year. “All happy families are alike but an unhappy family is unhappy after its own fashion.” By applying Leo Tolstoy’s understanding of 19th Century Russian dynastic sagas to football’s 21st century upper class we can see that Solskjaer has bolted the door on Jose, his crippling divisions and ruinous machinations, and re-introduced a sense of togetherness and belonging fundamental to the wellbeing of any group.

Happy place

In this he is following the example set by Gareth Southgate with England, a happy place where footballers are encouraged to give their best and are reminded that this is their team to love and to cherish. “I don’t know if I’m at home at his level, but I’m at home at this club,” Solskjaer said after the 4-1 dispatch of Bournemouth. “It’s me. I’m confident in my environment. It’s up to you [others] to rate me. But I’m enjoying myself being back home.”

Solskjaer has made a fuss of Fergie too, involving him at Carrington, which is another nod to the importance of extended family and the familiar. It is not all about the past, however. Solskjaer understands that the absolute power enjoyed by the man he calls ‘the boss’ is no longer available to the modern manager. Those traditional relationships were based on ancient patriarchies blown away by football’s new economics in which power has followed the money into the dressing room.

You wonder if Mourinho properly understood that. If he did his methods suggest he was resistant to the shifting dynamic. When Paul Pogba said in the immediate aftermath of Mourinho’s removal that his ex-boss had “f**ked with the wrong baller”, he wasn’t joking. When it came to resolving the tension at the heart of United’s dismal season the board fell in behind Pogba. Like it or not, we can see how Pogba has responded to the prompts of a manager sympathetic to the new rules of engagement.

Power surge

It helps that Solskjaer brings a quieter psyche to work. He does not have any of Mourinho’s power surges, does not need to crush in order to bring subjects to heel. This does not mean he is without authority, only that he takes his own ego out of the decision making process and does not get in his own way.

“I have just gone about the job as I experienced it as I did as a player and as a young coach. We want to go attacking. We have to entertain. We have got good players. They are good people. They want to improve. I just want to do my bit while I’m here. I want Man Utd to look like this when I’m here. We will get tougher tests for example at Newcastle. I never enjoyed going up there. We need to keep clean sheets. Not done that so far,” he said.

In one sense Solskjaer can’t miss. Adoration is on tap. He is not fighting to save his job, nor is he answerable to his employer in the conventional way. And what came before was so bad, the Stretford End are still celebrating corners. All of this allows Solskjaer the freedom to get on with the job unencumbered by politics.

“We are thinking only about the next game. Let’s see what that brings. You don’t always get the results you deserve. We just want to play the right way. More often than not that will get you the points. They are top players. It is down to how you prepare and the standards you set yourself.”

More on Manchester United:

The post Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has turned back clock at Manchester United and is reaping rewards (so far) appeared first on inews.co.uk.



from Football – inews.co.uk http://bit.ly/2RnWdzk

Liverpool face Manchester City at the Etihad on Thursday evening, a top of the table clash between two sides who are vying for Premier League glory.

The man chosen to officiate, Anthony Taylor, hails from Wythenshawe, Greater Manchester.

Suffice to say, Liverpool fans are none too pleased…

Reaction: ‘No words’

One Liverpool fan claimed Taylor refereed two of his club’s games against opposition from Manchester last season in the Premier League (something which is patently not true).

Google Maps was even wheeled out to show the proximity of Taylor’s birthplace to both Manchester football stadiums.

Taylor’s birthplace will no doubt be a talking point on Twitter post-match, should there be any debatable high-profile decisions made.

The reality: No cause for concern

Since 2011, Taylor has reffed just two Premier League games including both Liverpool and a club from Manchester. The fixtures have finished as follows: Man City 2-2 Liverpool and Liverpool 0-0 Manchester United.

One Liverpool fan pointed out that Liverpool were yet to suffer a defeat under Taylor’s officiating against Manchester clubs.

There is no evidence to suggest Liverpool have been hard done by when Taylor has been in charge of the whistle. This season, for example, he watched over their 4-0 thrashing of West Ham.

Liverpool PL games that Anthony Taylor has officiated since 2016-17

Draw: Liverpool 0-0 Man United – October 17th 2016

Win: Liverpool 2-0 Sunderland – November 26th 2016

Draw: Sunderland 2-2 Liverpool – Jan 2nd 2017

Win: Liverpool 2-0 Tottenham – February 11th 2017

Win: Liverpool 3-1 Everton – April 1st 2017

Draw: Watford 3-3 Liverpool – August 12th 2017

Win: Leicester 2-3 Liverpool – September 23rd 2017

Win: Liverpool 5-0 Watford – 17th March 2018

Loss: Chelsea 1-0 Liverpool – 6th May 2018

Win: Liverpool 4-0 West Ham – August 12th 2018

Taylor has, however, been criticised recently for his refereeing performance during Sheffield United’s 3-0 win over Blackburn Rovers in the Championship.

The Cheshire-born official controversially dished out an early red card to Blades defender Chris Basham for two yellow card offences, before having little choice but to dismiss Blackburn’s Richie Smallwood for a bad challenge in the second half.

A referee’s job is hard enough at the best of times. After the reaction to his appointment this week, Taylor might face more criticism than usual both in-game and post-match when Liverpool take on Man City.

More on the Premier League:

The post Anthony Taylor (from Manchester) appointed Man City vs Liverpool referee appeared first on inews.co.uk.



from Football – inews.co.uk http://bit.ly/2Sti4CN

Football is coming thick and fast and that is proving to be a real headache for Premier League managers – not to mention their fantasy football counterparts.

With yet another Gameweek getting under way on New Year’s Day, here are our final Fantasy Premier League tips of 2018.

Get these points scorers in your side and kick off 2019 with a bang.

Raul Jimenez, Wolves

Raul Jimenez’s form for Wolves this season has made him a favourite among FPL managers, with 21.7 per cent of teams currently possessing the centre-forward.

Read more: Fantasy Premier League tips: What is a ‘wildcard’ and when should you use it?

His goal helped Wolves to a shock 3-1 victory over Spurs on Saturday, taking the the newly promoted side up to seventh in the Premier League table.

Other than Manchester City in Gameweek 22, Wolves now face a relatively kind run of fixtures with the struggling Crystal Palace set to visit Molineux on 2 January and Jimenez looks well capable of adding to his already impressive points tally.

Cost: £6.3m Points: 93

Paul Pogba, Manchester United

One man who has clearly flourished under the guidance of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is Manchester United’s club record signing Paul Pogba.

Read more: Newcastle United vs Manchester United: Kick-off time, how to watch, team news, expected line-ups and odds

The midfielder has been in sensational form, picking up 46 points since the Norwegian took charge as United have won three on the bounce.

With United set to face a struggling Newcastle this week, it would be a brave FPL manager who chooses not to include him in their team.

Cost: £8.2m Points: 97

Richarlison, Everton

While not in the best form, Everton face a kind run of fixtures to kick off the New Year.

While Gylfi Sigurdsson (97 points) is the club’s top scorer in terms of FPL points, teammate Richarlison (95 points) is £0.3m cheaper and therefore a better value option.

Get him in ahead of games against Leicester, Bournemouth, Southampton and Huddersfield.

Cost: £7.0 Points: 95

Dele Alli, Spurs

With his Spurs teammate Son Heung-min soon to jet off for the Asian Cup, there could well be plenty more game time for Lucas Moura in the coming Gameweeks.

Read more: Son Heung-min at the Asian Cup: How many games will the Tottenham player miss?

The Brazilian started the season in great form, scoring three goals in as many games – including a brace at Old Trafford – but has struggled of late.

With Manchester United visiting Wembley next month as well as winnable fixtures against Cardiff, Fulham and Watford, consider getting the Spurs man in at some point in the next few weeks and back him to re-find his form.

Cost: £6.9m Points: 84

David Luiz, Chelsea

David Luiz has enjoyed an excellent season under Maurizio Sarri, benefitting from the new manager’s emphasis on playing out from the back.

The Brazilian has played 90 minutes of every game, bar the victory over Wolves in Gameweek 15, and has picked up an impressive 91 FPL points thanks to nine clean sheets and five games in which he has been awarded bonus points.

With home games against Southampton and Newcastle coming up, now seems as good a time as any to get the Chelsea man on board.

Cost: £5.8m Points: 91

Join i’s league on the official Fantasy Premier League game to pit your wits against fellow readers – and our hapless sports desk team. Code: 1284313-292880

Join our Facebook group where you can swap tricks and tactics throughout the campaign. 

i‘s week-by-week tips: 

FPL tips: 5 players to sign in Gameweek 2

FPL tips: 5 players to sign in Gameweek 3

FPL tips: 5 players to sign in Gameweek 4

FPL tips: 5 players to sign in Gameweek 5

FPL tips: 5 players to sign in Gameweek 6

FPL tips: 5 players to sign in Gameweek 7

FPL tips: 5 players to sign in Gameweek 8

FPL tips: 5 players to sign in Gameweek 9

FPL tips: 5 players to sign in Gameweek 10

FPL tips: 5 players to sign in Gameweek 11

FPL tips: 5 players to sign in Gameweek 12

FPL tips: 5 players to sign in Gameweek 13

FPL tips: 5 players to sign in Gameweek 14

FPL tips: 5 players to sign in Gameweek 15

FPL tips: 5 players to sign in Gameweek 16

FPL tips: 5 players to sign in Gameweek 17

FPL tips: 5 players to sign in Gameweek 18

FPL tips: 5 players to sign in Gameweek 19

FPL tips: 5 players to sign in Gameweek 20

More on Fantasy Football

The post Fantasy Premier League tips: 5 players to sign in Gameweek 21 appeared first on inews.co.uk.



from Football – inews.co.uk http://bit.ly/2TfaDPm

Bournemouth travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United smarting from a Boxing Day 5-0 thrashing at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur.

A tough test faces Eddie Howe’s side, as they will play a Red Devils team reenergised under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Under the Norwegian interim boss the Mancunians have scored eight goals in two victories.

Read more: Next Manchester United manager: 5 contenders for permanent job

Bournemouth have never recorded a Premier League win against Manchester United at Old Trafford, but drew 1-1 in March 2017. Whether they can break the hoodoo just as United seem to have found form, will be interesting to see.

Here is everything you need to know about the match. 

Match details

Kick-off: 4.30pm on Sunday, 30 December 2018 at Old Trafford

TV channel: Coverage starts from 4:15pm on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League. You can stream the match live on Sky Go or via Now TV with sports pass.

Referee: Lee Mason

Form: Manchester United WLLWW, Bournemouth LLLWL

Odds: Manchester United 7/19, Draw 49/11, Bournemouth 19/2

Team news and expected lineups

Follow us on Facebook: @iPaperSport

Anthony Martial missed the most recent match against Huddersfield through illness, and he may recover in time for the Bournemouth fixture. Romelu Lukaku is expected to return from compassionate leave, while Alexis Sanchez has travelled to England from Chile to finish his recovery from injury. Ander Herrera is expected to return to the squad and Eric Bailly may feature again in the back four.

Bournemouth will miss Simon Francis, who was injured in the Boxing Day match against Tottenham Hotspur. If they maintain their 3-4-3 formation, they will likely use Ryan Fraser or Tyrone Mings in the right wing-back position. Diego Rico may be rotated into the lineup too.

Here is how the sides could line up:

Manchester United (4-3-3): De Gea; Young, Bailly, Lindelof, Shaw; Herrera, Matic, Pogba; Lingard, Lukaku, Rashford

Bournemouth (3-4-3): Begovic; Simpson, Ake, Cook; Mings, Lerma, Surman, Rico; Brooks, Wilson, Fraser

More Premier League:

Take a look at i‘s new product review section, ibuys, where you can find expert advice on everything from Christmas gifts to kitchen appliances.

The post Manchester United vs Bournemouth: Kick-off time, how to watch on TV and live stream, team news, expected line-ups and odds appeared first on inews.co.uk.



from Football – inews.co.uk http://bit.ly/2Ve5icV

Crystal Palace will host Chelsea at Selhurst Park this weekend in search of an unlikely return to winning ways, after they followed up Andros Townsend’s heroic goal at the Etihad with a deflating 0-0 draw at home to Cardiff City.

Of the 19 Premier League meetings in the history of the two London sides, Palace have taken the spoils four times. Roy Hodgson will hope his side can overcome the odds and the passing game of Maurizio Sarri’s Blues on Sunday.

Read more: Hazard brings up ton as Chelsea celebrate Christmas with a win over Watford

Eden Hazard bagged a brace in a 1-2 win at Vicarage Road in a low quality affair on Boxing day to take the three points from the Hornets, a bonus being he surpassed 100 goals for his club. For Crystal Palace defenders, the Belgian will be the man to stop at the weekend.

Here is everything you need to know about the match.

Match details

Kick-off: Midday on Sunday 30 December 2018, at Selhurst Park

TV channel: Coverage starts from 11.30am on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League. You can stream the match live on Sky Go or via Now TV with sports pass.

Referee: TBA

Form: Crystal Palace LLWWD, Chelsea DWWLW

Odds: Crystal Palace 7/2, Draw 14/5, Chelsea 7/10

Team news and expected lineups

Follow us on Facebook: @iPaperSport

The hosts have a near-full squad to choose from. Martin Kelly and Wayne Hennessey are returning from groin strains and back injuries, while Christian Benteke’s injury will likely keep him sidelined until the new year.

For Chelsea, forwards Pedro and Callum Hudson-Odoi are unlikely to feature due to injuries sustained in the Watford match. Andreas Christensen is still recovering from his hamstring problem, while Alvaro Morata is 50/50 as to whether he’ll feature after his own issues with his knee.

Here’s how they could line up:

Crystal Palace (4-4-2): Guaita; Wan Bissaka, Tomkins, Sakho, Van Aanholt; Meyer, Kouyate, Milivojevic, Schlupp; Zaha, Townsend

Chelsea (4-3-3): Kepa; Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Luiz, Alonso; Loftus-Cheek, Jorginho, Kante; Willian, Giroud, Hazard

More Premier League:

The post Crystal Palace v Chelsea: Kick-off time, how to watch on TV and live stream, team news, expected line-ups and odds appeared first on inews.co.uk.



from Football – inews.co.uk http://bit.ly/2EQyAJS

That’s 11 goals in two matches either side of Christmas. That’s 45 points from 19 games, Tottenham‘s best start to a season since the Glory Glory year of 1961. That’s a point more than Manchester City. They will never win the league, though. To suggest so is to invite death by rotten fruit and titters.

Never mind are they challengers. A better question is are Spurs, pound for pound, the best performing outfit in the Premier League, the routine emasculation of Bournemouth placing them in second place, six points off the top at the halfway stage? We know how the naysayers feel. Mauricio Pochettino has not won a bean. Spurs have not won a pot since the League Cup a decade ago and only two since the FA Cup success of 27 years ago.

Liverpool and Manchester City are top loaded with high end talent and boast benches that would start in other top six sides. Spurs are not in their class. Yet here we are at Yuletide with Spurs humming with vim and vigour. Given the structural constraints imposed by their new build in N17, which not only denies them a home but forces upon them a rental that is more mausoleum than stadium, and the lack of squad reinforcements in the summer, Pochettino continues his masterclass in husbandry.

Walking them in with ease

Yes Bournemouth limped into Wembley on a hospital run of six losses in seven and having never beaten Spurs in a league game. That’s providence for you, the kind of fortune that keeps a ball rolling. Irrespective of fate’s generous offerings Pochettino is making his own luck. It is he who has persisted with Juan Foyth, he who has brought Kyle Walker-Peters up to speed and rebuilt the as-new Moussa Sissoko, who powered through this match like a 21-year-old.

The contest was over in barely half an hour, with Walker-Peters providing the assist to all three goals. Christian Eriksen was the first beneficiary clipping a deflected shot past Asmir Begovic. Charlie Daniels was entirely culpable for the second, failing to deal with a cross from Toby Alderweireld before being mugged by Walker-Peters, who fed Son Heung-min.

The Korean does not hang about. He took a touch, picked his spot and hit it. Two shots on target, two nil up. By the 35th minute Spurs were walking them in, Lucas Moura collecting the pull-back from you know who to side-foot Bournemouth into the ground. Poor Eddie Howe. It would have to be now in the middle of an awful spell that his work should be scrutinised in the unforgiving light of peak Pochettino, the man he is tipped to replace should Manchester United’s courtship of the Argentine prove irresistible.

‘Spurs were clinical’

If Howe has for the moment lost impetus on the pitch his qualities are perhaps best reflected in the clarity of his thinking during difficult episodes, his ability to maintain a sense of perspective and to keep the heads of his players pointing upwards.

“It was a strange game,” the Bournemouth manager said afterwards. “We had couple of really good moments at start of the match. It turned on their first goal, a deflection from distance. I don’t know if that affected my players mentally or not. Never really recovered and conceded some poor goals. We’ll look back and see some good things but ultimately a heavy defeat. No point going to too deep into this. Our next match is at Manchester United. We have to prepare for that.”

For the record Howe is a believer in the Spurs title debate. “Without a doubt,” he said when asked if Spurs can win it. “They have forward players and creative players that can cause any team problems. They had opportunities today and took them. That was the difference between the two teams. They didn’t create many chances but when they did they were clinical.”

‘I’m trying to keep balance in my emotions’

Like Howe, Pochettino impresses in his refusal to get carried away. Reminded how eight weeks ago Spurs lost here to City to fall back to fifth, he responded thus: “I was not negative then and I’m not so positive now. I’m trying to keep the balance in my emotions. We are happy but not surprised. We focus on us. Our work is paying off. It does not mean too much to be second now. It is important where we are in May.

“If we are here it is because we have amazing belief. The players deserve credit. We have faith and great ideas. The challenge is to increase that [level of] performance. Now we show our face and everyone wants to kill you. That makes it tougher. We just need to stay humble and keep working hard. If we keep our level until May we can maybe talk about being real contenders.”

Pochettino’s culture of honesty and faith has bound the team around a productive, entirely positive ethos. If you want to know his secret, here he spell it out. “When you take the decision not to buy [in the summer] you need to be positive and give your best to the team. One thing we have is the belief in the squad, young players as well as senior. In six months we have not complained about anything not the [lack of] signings, the stadium, the fixtures, playing at Wembley when the plan was to be in new stadium. Many, many things. But we keep the belief. We create a bubble that is now paying. This makes us proud.”

More on Tottenham:

The post Mauricio Pochettino might talk down Tottenham’s title hopes but it’s becoming difficult for anyone else to now appeared first on inews.co.uk.



from Football – inews.co.uk http://bit.ly/2Ad7Lvq

MKRdezign

Contact Form

Name

Email *

Message *

copyright webdailytips. Powered by Blogger.
Javascript DisablePlease Enable Javascript To See All Widget